Sleep, Are You Getting Enough?

Nowadays, sleep tends to take a bit of a backseat while our busy, fast-paced lives are slowly creeping into vital resting time.

Sleep, unfortunately, is something that the majority of us choose to sacrifice when in actuality, sleep needs to be a priority. Not only does it make us look and feel better, but when your body is well-rested you function better which means you will be more efficient in the tasks at hand. In addition, it helps to keep you at your ideal weight and help you to feel your best.

How much sleep should we be getting? We have always heard that the recommended amount is around eight hours, but I personally feel that this varies from person-to-person depending on lifestyle and diet. As my diet is mainly raw, I only need around 6-7 hours as my body has more freed up energy as there is less of a digestion process. If your body is working properly and efficiently, then you should need less sleep. I think it comes down to being responsible for your health and listening, as well as understanding your body’s needs. Just be a little more conscious of the causes of your sleeping problems and make sure solve them. Temporary solutions like sleeping pills will only do more harm – they should be a very last resort. Make sure you try a few of these methods and are getting enough beauty sleep.

Here are my top five tips to help you get optimum sleep:

PREP YOUR BRAIN
You want to give yourself time to relax and calm before you go to sleep. Avoid using any electronics as this stimulates the brain. If you’re checking Facebook or watching TV right before bed, you’re not giving your body enough time to turn down and rest from the day. If you have trouble falling asleep, then this will be especially helpful as stimulating your brain before bed will only make it more difficult to drift off. Dimming the lights is a good technique to prepare your brain for sleep.

HAVE A WARM SHOWER
Taking a warm shower just before bed is a great way to prepare your body for sleep. The slight decrease in body temperature after you’ve had your shower helps makes you drowsy by slowing down your metabolism. Ideally, you want your room temperature to be around 65 degrees.

INHALE ESSENTIAL OILSEssential oils have a instant effect on the brain. The best oil to use for sleep is lavender as it has a relaxing effect. I like to put a few drops on my pillow before bed, or I inhale straight from the bottle with three deep, slow breathes. Another great one is patchouli, which is more of an earthier aroma. This one is great for the guys out there as men respond better to the earthier aroma while keeping the same effect as lavender without the “girly” smell.

TEASPOON OF SUGAVIDASugaVida is harvested from the Palmyra tree and is highly nutritious. It is also the only plant-based source of bioavailable B12 in the world. B12 deficiency have been linked to difficulty falling asleep and even sleeping, as having a B12 deficiency has been linked to insomnia. Take a teaspoon of SugaVida with a glass of water or nut milk, 10 minutes before you go to bed and you may find that you will be falling asleep a lot quicker and easier as well as having a deep long sleep.

READ A BOOK
Before I go to bed, I always make sure I read as it’s a sure guarantee to put me to sleep. I only ever manage a few pages, which is why I would suggest to maybe read something fun and light.

START MEDITATING
Now, I’m not suggesting that you need to turn into a Buddha or anything here, but meditating for even just five minutes before you got to bed can be extremely beneficial. Extensive studies have proven meditation reduces depression which has been linked to insomnia, helps reduce stress, improves the immune system, and reduces blood pressure.

Studies have shown that those who practice meditation spend more time in slow wave sleep and get more REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. Mediation has many positive effects on not only our mind, but our body health and our emotions, too. It has impacted my life hugely.

Honestly Alessandra started her journey six years ago when an experience in a detox retreat flipped her world around and changed not only how she ate, but how she behaved, thought, and viewed the world. From there, she immediately embarked on her journey to help and inspire others, all while she continued to study and experience her new world while she gained her degree in nutrition. She continued her passion by using her social media platforms to connect further to her community by sharing her life and knowledge, and has gained and grown a plant-based conscious community within only a year. This led her to start her successful blog www.honestlyalessandra.com, where she connects and shares plant-based food and smoothie recipes, beauty hacks, and tutorials along with other vegan, raw, and plant-based knowledge, as well as an up-close and personal look into her life. Find Alessandra on Facebook and Instagram.